Deseret News | Huckabee says he has not said anything unkind about Mormons

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Huckabee says he has not said anything unkind about Mormons

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Typical Politician | 10:21 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Funny that I don't recall these staunchly supportive types of remarks toward Mormons whilst the Huckster had evangelical audiences....

I guess it all depends on who the audience is.

Jeremy | 10:27 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Thank you for this article. I think a lot of things are taken out of context during a presidential campaign. My opinion of Gov Huckabee has risen by reading this.

backpedaling | 10:29 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Someone is posturing for his next run eh?

Comments continue below

Phil | 10:32 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

And Huck claimed that Mitt Romney was dishonest. This some of the biggest political pandering dishonesty that I have ever heard.

Double talk | 10:29 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Let the 2012 Double talk begin from the huckster. Next he will be telling us that there is nothing wrong with the economy and that pigs can fly.

The Huckster | 10:41 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Well, it's good to see that Mr. Huckabee is still a good, old fashioned politician who talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Doug S | 10:40 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Oh, thanks, Huck. So we're not heretics; we're just hicks who throw eggs and rotten vegetables at people we don't like.

Though I must say, Huck's comments about Romney are spot-on.

Brace | 10:43 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I can't stand this Huckleberry guy. He makes his jabs at Mormons and acts like the kid with his hand in the cookie jar, "What? I didn't do anything?!" "I like Mormons." It reminds me of a guy who makes an ethnic slur and in trying to defend himself says that he has many black friends; or says I don't care if people are black, brown, yellow, or green.

This guy is a chump and I hold him responsible that the GOP nominee wasn't Romney. Instead we nominated Bob Dole's twin brother.

first steps | 10:44 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

With all the Mormon bashing being so popular recently it's good to see he may be dropping off that band wagon even though he had a hand in starting it during the campaign. If he went national with comments like this, it would mean a lot more than what he says for 12 minutes to a specific audience in Utah.

If you really do care about the "Mormon vote" Huckabee, you've still got a lot more work to do.

LDS in SC | 10:44 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Huckabee's surrogates in South Carolina presidential primary were openly anti-LDS in the newspapers here. Including local elected officials. Same for McCain surrogates. His comment about Mormons on national TV were nothing less than cunning on his part.

Baptist ministers (Huckabee is a former Baptist minister) love to attack the LDS church every chance they get. Anti-LDS literature is underwritten in large part by Baptist organizations (think Bob Jones Univeristy for example)....

Huckabee has not and will denounce the anti-LDS rhetoric his base loves to spout off about.

Huckabee is just another slick politician, currently pandering to the LSD community.

not impressed | 10:45 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Unfortunately, this is the Huckabee I thought I knew - defiant, still holding a grudge against Mitt Romney (even if everything he says about the man is true, he desperately needs to Get Over It), still rallying his Huck's Army behind the scenes to undermine his fellow Republicans far beyond just Romney. From the moment he hired Ed Rollins, the pit bull of politics, Huckabee's nastier side emerged.

The stories from his governor days reveal the same person: using religion to divide ("Shi'ite Republicans"), an unrelenting nastiness towards those of whom he disapproves.

Huckabee is where he belongs: on a talk show. He can be entertaining, but as a politician the man is poison.

Sandra, St George | 10:51 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I am always grateful when a person is allowed to clarify their words. Thank you! Too many times we get words taken out of context that change "white to black", so to speak. All that ever does is create contention and hostilities. If we want peace in this land we need fair reporting and personal patience and forgiving.

Yawn | 10:50 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Where's the story? I remember him saying things about how someone that believed in the Mormon God was unfit and irrational to be a legitimate presidential candidate.

Do a little research and find the unkind things he DID say. C'mon stir up a little controversy.....Isn't that your job??

Re: Mike Huckabee | 10:52 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Please don't get me started on Mike Huckabee. He is just like Bill Clinton....a pompous, self-serving politician, who only thinks of himself. Doug Wright is also of the same ilk, and too opinionated on many issues near and dear to conservatives....there are very few true conservatives in Utah...certainly Doug is not one. Mike Huckabee's attacks on Mitt were his true attitude, and his apology was the usual political double speak. He meant was he said about Mitt; his apology was an indicator of his hypocrisy. As a Baptist, he has no understanding of the Latter-day Saint doctrines versus his. And he is still a preacher. Doug, please don't try to sell Huckabee as any friend of the Church....he hates and despizes it.

Doug | 10:52 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Active Mormon here who agrees that Romney ran a lousy campaign. Unfortunately everything any Mormon public figure does it is transposed onto the church membership in general. I like Huckabee (don't think he would be a good President - but is a fabulous speaker, radio/TV personality, etc.) and hope Mormons will not be so sensitive that he gets an unfair label for not liking Romney (millions didn't like Romney's style during the campaign - including some Mormons).

Huckabee is still the Huckster | 10:54 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

You've got to be kidding. We can thank Mr. Huckabee's "plausible deniability" for his "innocent" comment about the beliefs of Latter-day Saints along with his continual dealing the religious bigot card off the bottom of the deck for knocking Mitt out of the race and thereby giving us McCain and thus Obama. It's not for no reason that many Romney supporters in Utah and elsewhere are no fans of the Huckster.

Oklahoma Mormon | 11:02 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

No matter how much Huckabee says that he likes Mormons, I still don't believe in Baptists. By the way, I USED to be a Baptist.

Verla Swords | 11:07 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I think some of the things Huckabee said about the Mormons and Mitt Romney are almost unforgiveable. Have Huckabee look up evangilists in the dictionary He will find out what a true Christian is.If he was a true Cristian he would not say such hurtfull things. Mormons are much more Christinn like than Huckabee ever will be.He will say almost any thing for a laugh.My opinion along with several thousand others.

with collie gone | 11:08 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

who will hall throw too. THis is going to be a runaway joke next season. Especially with teams like OU and FSU on the schedule. Collie was like the only good weapon they had last and this year.

ROMNEY | 11:09 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Haven't you seen a LDS person get into politics? they act different and sometimes shady. That's politics.

Yup | 11:16 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I know Huckabee is a politician and it is obvious he is lying. His lips are moving.

All anyone with a brain has to do is take a look at the born-again/evangelical view of Mormons to know these people are religously opposed to Mormons and we know these people vote religion--evidenced by their blind votes for "Preseeedent Hyuckabee"!!

Are you kidding?

I'm sorry just like if you are not a citizen, you can't be the President if you have the word "Huck" in your name.

Ozark Bubba | 11:24 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

My fellow commentors have hit the nail on the head. We Arkansans have long known that Huckabee is a Mormon hater. He always made that obvious as governor.

I don't think he has had a change in heart as he moves from preacher to politician to pundit.

What he primarily seeks is celebrity status.

VF | 11:26 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Mike Huckabee is a bald faced liar. I worked on Mitt's campaign in New Hampshire to help get him nominated as the GOP candidate for President by manning some of his phone banks, marching in some of his parades, attending and helping in many of his town meetings, "Ask Mitt Anything". I also watched all of his debates and took note of Huckabee and McCain's lies and insinuations. I was also amazed that Mitt treated these two with friendship which was very difficult for me to watch.

Huckabee made several snide insinuations that Mormons were not Christians and if my memory is correct he was in Salt Lake City with the Southern Baptist Convention (Not sure of the dates)when they had decided to go tracting and telling Mormons that their religion is of the Devil.

Before my family joined the Mormon Church we were Southern Baptists and have a very good idea of what it teaches and blieves. In fact my Grandfather disowned us as his family because we had joined the church. Huckabee may be able to convince some Utah Mormons that he supports Mormons but I know better.

Stenar | 11:26 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Huckster is just trying to kiss up to the Mormons because he realizes now that there are a lot of them and not just in Utah, especially after they flexed their muscle with Prop 8. He'll probably need some of them when he tries to run for president again. Hopefully, Mormons tell him to get lost.

Huckabee Stay Home | 11:36 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

So you want to come to Utah, eh?
No need to come visit, I listened to the interview and you are still the same defiant hateful person who will bash Mormons the second he gets the chance.
I think this whole reaching out (Doug Wright mentioned that they have tried to interview him dozens of times before only to get blow off becuase KSL is in Utah) thing is becuase he relaized that nobody here is watching his FOX News show, becuase, well he is offensive and the show is not that good. Which is amazing when you consider how much of Utah has cable TV to get Conference and Fox News.

Re: Brace | 10:43 a.m. | 11:43 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

You are exactly right! I could not agree with you more! We could have had a decent Republican president, instead we got Obama. But with that said, I would rather have Obama as president than McCain. I am sure McCain was in collusion with Huckabee. They are both corrupt members of the old boy network

Shameless | 11:55 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

This man IS talking out of both sides of his mouth, and he is absolutely shameless.

The Huckster did participate in that 1998 "convert the Mormons" Southern Baptist Convention, and he did disparage the LDS church with his "11 words."

He and the people who support him give every Latter-day Saint every reason to reconsider his or her loyalty to the Republican party. (But most of us probably won't).

Robert | 12:03 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I have met Huckabee twice in my life. He is a gracious man and I hope he can build good connections with the LDS community.

I am not an LDS members but I worked with many Mormons here in CA to pass Prop 8. We got along well.

While I don't think Huckabee can demand Mormons like him, I truly believe that he does not have ill will or a problem with Mormons.

Kathy | 12:01 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Gag! What a crock. I don't believe one word he said. Just another lying politician pandering. If Jon Huntsman Jr. were ever to run, I think good ole Huck would pull the religion card out again in a second.

Nothing here, move on... | 12:09 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Sounds like mote-beam syndrome to me... 7*70=?

Patrick | 12:10 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I love the Mormons, but I think it's so funny that you proselytize other Christians but feel persecuted when they don't accept you as fully Christian. Kind of a double standard.

The politicians to watch out for aren't the ones that say something, but the ones that don't - which politician shares Mormon values more Huck or Obama, yet I see more LDS with a grudge against Huck just because he questioned your doctrine a little. Romney's a closet liberal and everyone knows it.

John Pack Lambert | 12:17 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

To try to imply that Mormons believe that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers is highly unkind.
Lucifer lost his divine sonship when he rebelled and has no part or connection to God.
The Jesus we believe in is the one born in Bethlehem and killed on Calvary. The one who rose again on the third day. We believe in the same Jesus as the Evangelicals and all other Christians.

Tim | 12:28 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Huckabee is a likeable guy, and I don't understand everyone's dislike towards him. He is a good politician because he is a good people person, and we all know that to get things done you need to be an effective communicator ( like Obama, even though I don't agree with his policies.) I mean he apologized for saying those 11 words about mormons, so I take his word for it.

Frozen Chosen | 12:33 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

On several occasions during the campaign Huckabee was asked if Mitt Romney was a Christian. He always waffled and said something like,"Oh, that isn't my place to say". Yet when a reporter asked him if he thought Barak Obama, he of the Church of Jeremiah Wright, was a Christian the Huckster said "absolutely". Doug Wright should've asked him if he believed Mormons were Christian and he would've exposed the fraud.

John Pack Lambert | 12:36 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

To Doug,
We do not dislike Huckabee for disliking Romney, we dislike him for the meanspirited and untrue statements he said about Mormons.
His refusal to accept them as Christians was something he needs to address openly.
If he now believes we are Christian than I am ok with him. If he still wants to hold to a definition of Christian that excludes people who take the emblems of Christ's body and blood on a weekly basis, than I will continue to hold he is not our friend.

re: Tim | 12:50 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

So, Tim, do you think because he apologized, that he didn't mean those words? Do you understand what went on in that 1998 anti-Mormon convention that he was an active part of? Do we discount the many anti-Mormon statements he said when he was governor? We can forgive him but does that mean we have to pretend he doesn't hate Mormons when some us watched him and listened very closely and know without a doubt that he does?

Spin Spin Spin | 12:55 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

No matter what he says now, he made those comments once in time. One only speaks what one thinks, so it's obvious that this is all spin, directed at an audience he can't alienate with his comments. It was different back when he was trying to win voters...

Re:Mr. Lambert | 12:59 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Nicely said John Pack Lambert and Frozen Chosen.

Careful kids... | 1:04 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

We should not use words like bigot and acceptance because a comment such as this "they are bigoted because they do not accept Mormons as Christian." Acceptance is a tough word as is bigot. We've been called bigots for not "accepting" others so we shouldn't use those types of phrases with other people.

Blessed are the persecuted. Let's be blessed instead of whiners. Let's state the facts - we are Christian - but let's not get too up in arms when someone calls us this, that or the other.

I don't see the purpose of withholding our "friendship" and fellowship with anyone just because they think we are a charlatan-following cult of brain washed sheep. 7*70 = 490...let's forgive that many times at least.

Texas Mormon | 1:09 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Mr. Huckabee--I do not dislike you personally. What I dislike is that in your eagerness to get elected you used religion as a divider. You opened the door for religious bigotry on the national stage in such a way as to make ALL religious people targets.

You showed that using religion to divide people is a valid, successful campaign tactic. In short, you made it that much more difficult for all of us who profess to believe in God to run for office or to have a say in government.

And as our country lurches down this socialist path we're currently on, you are directly responsible for dividing our party--giving us no way to stop the direction our new leaders have taken.

Now that Obama is talking about trillions more in handouts, I can't help but think how it would have been different with a responsible business leader at the helm.

I don't hate you. I love evangelical Christians. But it is past time they and you recognize it is unacceptable to ask for our vote and our help on all the key issues we have in common only to declare us unfit to vote for as candidates.

Re: John Patrick Lambert | 1:11 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

John, Lucifer never had "divine sonship", that is reserved for Christ alone. But he is and remains one of the spirit children of our Heavenly Father. We do believe they are brothers, because they are. They are also our brothers.

Enemies of the church (such as Mike Huckabee) take this fact out of context and present it in a deliberately inflammatory way in order to make something which is scriptural and benign look UNSAVORY and SACRILEGIOUS.

It's Mormon Bashing 101.

The Rock | 1:10 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I have worked with Evangelical Christians for many years (having served a mission in the south and spend more than 20 years as a stake or ward missionary). I know the culture, the people and their doctrines.

Huckabee's comments about Romney were carefully calculated to capitalize on Evangelical hatred for Mormons.

When Huckabee said that 'He' was the 'Christian' candidate it was also calculated to communicate to his base that Romney was not Christian.

Huckabee used all the right buzz words to get his message across.

He can't fool me. He is lieing through his teeth. Huck has no respect or love for the LDS people. He believes that we are a cult and definitely not Christian.

Only God can say who is Christian and who is not. Huck is playing God.

Anonymous | 1:13 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

well, if he didn'thave anything against mormons, why did he attack them during the campaign? and if he says the he saw a different Romney, why didn't he say so pointing what was different?

It looks to me that the real double face is Huckabee.

Anonymous | 1:14 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Mr. Huckabee--

I do not dislike you personally. I dislike that in your eagerness to get elected you used religion as a divider. You opened the door for religious bigotry on the national stage in such a way as to make ALL religious people targets.

You showed that using religion to divide people is a valid, successful campaign tactic. You've made it that much more difficult for all of us who profess to believe in God to run for office or to have any say in our government.

As our country lurches down this socialist path we're currently on, you are directly responsible for dividing our party--giving us no way to stop the direction our new leaders have taken.

Watching Obama talking about trillions more in handouts, I can't help but think how it would have been different with a responsible business leader at the helm.

I don't hate you. I love evangelical Christians. But it is past time they and you recognize it is unacceptable to ask for our vote and our help on all the key issues we have in common only to declare us unfit to vote for as candidates.

Huckabee: Mormo-Phobe | 1:22 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Huckabee's inflammatory remarks were intended to bias Southern Baptists from voting for a Mormon. While I accept his apology, I'm troubled that he doesn't apologize for claiming that he was taken out of context. There was no context from which to take those eleven words. There could not have been any other reason why he would ask such a question other than to make people think that we either somehow worship or revere the devil or despise Jesus.

Can you imagine the outrage Romney would have insinuated that Baptists somehow were devil worshippers?

To me it was apparent that his disgust for the LDS faith runs deep. This is further evidenced by his stooping to the levels of collusion with McCain.

Huckabee accepted McCain's delegates in West Virginia to deny Romney a victory-- when he knew that only McCain and Romney had a chance at winning.

Like Romney I forgive him, but I don't think he'll ever earn my vote or support. When it comes to my vote, he has a lot of work to do to convince me that he respects the legitimacy of the LDS religion.

So? | 1:19 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

No matter whether he likes Mormons or not, Huckabee's still a Republican, and pretty far to the right even in that party. So he doesn't get my vote regardless.

My Bad | 1:22 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I was a big Huck supporter and still do like him, but I now hate the Fair Tax idea that was created by two rich guys that they say will tax them more??? yea Right!!!! Can't believe I fell for it.

Not likely | 1:21 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

A few caveats to start with. I was never a Mitt fan, because I didn't trust him on the Constitution. I am also much more of a libertarian than a conservative, so I voted for Bob Barr, and likely would have regardless of who the Republican candidate was. Also, I am fine with Baptists and others defining me as "non-Christian" so long as they are clear that it is because Mormon beliefs don't meet the technical requirements that they have established. I'm fine with being a christian, with a small 'c', if it makes them feel better.

Having said all of that, Huckabee has got to be one of the most disingenuous politicians ever. As a Baptist minister, he knows Mormon doctrine probably as well or better than most Mormons (albeit without any context, so it likely is slanted). His question about Jesus and Lucifer cannot therefore be interpreted as an innocent question. He knew the answer, and he knew that raised in that context that it would be very prejudicial to Romney specifically and Mormons in general. That and other examples make it impossible for me to believe that he really likes Mormons, as a general classification.

Patrick 12:10 | 1:22 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

I donï¿½t agree with your ï¿½double standardï¿½ comment. When someone spreads misinformation that Mormons are not something that they believe they are ï¿½ Mormons are justified in being offended by it. Mormons do not to go around publicly criticizing other peopleï¿½s beliefs. Mormons proselytize other Christians only because they believe they have something to add to their beliefs. Sure, like all religions, there are differences in belief, but Mormons are doctrinally committed to allowing all people to worship God according to their own conscience. Many believe their church is true, but Mormon doctrine forbids them to deride others for believing differently.

For that reason, I find some of the anti-Huckabee comments on this string disturbing. I, too, did not appreciate the few comments Huckabee made that devalued Mormon adoration for Christ. But no one speaks 100% complaint with my desires. Romney actually did worse that Huckabee in that respect.

I fully respect Huckabee. His intentions are good, he listens to reason, and he strives hard to make the world a better place. His religious beliefs are no more different from Mormonism that the beliefs of any other politician, including many so-called Mormon politicians.

AW Shucks! | 1:32 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

The poor LDS had their feelings hurt by a so called Christian. All Christians are frauds.

The LDS sure can throw out the hate but they can't take it.

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